Japanese confectionery: Dorayaki

Hello.
This is May in Japan.

Today I'd like to introduce Dorayaki.

This is Dorayaki.
It looks like a pancake.

Dorayaki is one of  Japanese confections.
It has two small pancakes with bean jam in between.
It is sweet and delicious.

The origin of the name Dorayaki is because the shape is similar to a Chinese gong called a Dora.

And also, it is famous that Japanese national animated cartoon, "Doraemon" loves Dorayaki.
Everyone loves Dorayaki !!

No more Pokemon ! The next-generation popular character is this !!

Hello.
This is May in Japan.

Do you know what this character is?

The name of this character is Jiba-nyan.
This is a character to come up for the anime called Yo-Kai Watch.

Yo-Kai Watch is a series of role-playing video games.
It is great popular to Japanese children after an animated cartoon started on TV.

The story:
One day, the main character boy "Keita", he gets a ghost watch which can watch ghosts.
He makes friends with ghosts appearing everywhere, and works together to solve the problems of the people.

The character goods of Yo-Kai Watch are sold at everywhere in Japan, and these are popular amongst kids.
Pokemon is already out of date.
The next-generation popular character is this !!

Pocky demitasse

Hello.
This is May in Japan.

I introduced "Pocky" before.

Today I'd like to introduce the new product of "Pocky".

This is the new product,"Pocky demitasse".
It is a new product released on January 13, 2015.

It is very small !!
It is as small as a cigarette box.

It has little inner capacity, but it sells for 130 yen, it's a high price.

This Pocky is shoter than a normal Pocky.
This chocolate is included cacao ingredient 1.7 times more than a normal Pocky.
So, this Pocky is slightly sweet.

It has a very bitter taste, so it's for adults.

It is a luxurious Pocky !!
Try it !

the luxurious Pocky:Almond crush

Hello.
This is May in Japan.

I introduced "Pocky" before.
Pocky has various flavors.

Today I'd like to introduce the luxurious Pocky.

This is the luxurious Pocky,"Almond crush".
It is now available.

This Pocky is studded with crushed almonds.
It is very fragrant and delicious !!

Ehomaki

Hello.
This is May in Japan.

Today is Setsubun day.
We have to scatter soybeans about the house.

And also, we eat Ehomaki on Setsubun day.

Ehomaki means a kind of sushi rolls.
It is written in Japanese as 恵方巻. 

Eating Ehomaki is considered to bring good luck.
We look in the lucky direction of the year with closed eyes, and must silently bite into Ehomaki while thinking of our wish.

The lucky direction of this year is west-southwest.

I hope my wish will come true.

Setsubun day

Hello.
This is May in Japan.

Tomorrow is Setsubun day.
Setsubun day means Bean-Throwing Festival.
It is written in Japanese as 節分.

Supermarkets in Japan sell soybeans scattered on Setsubun day.

I bought soybeans.
We scatter these soybeans about the house on Setsubun day.
When we scatter soybeans, we shout "Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi!".
"Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi" means "Out with the demon and in with fortune! ".


And we eat as many soybeans as our age.
I like eating soybeans, so when I was a little girl, I envied my parents that they could eat many soybeans.
But now, I am jealous of a little girl...

A souvenir :Ginger tea

Hello.
This is May in Japan.

My mother received a souvenir from her friend.
Today I'd like to introduce the souvenir.

This is it, "Shouga cha".
Shouga means ginger, cha means tea.

This is a souvenir from Yufuin where is famous for a hot spring resort.

It seems a jam of ginger.
We dissolve it in hot water and drink it.

If you dissolve it in hot black tea, it's ginger tea.
It is a good souvenir for winter.